How to Mute a Home Phone

Whether taking a conference call from a home office, silencing the microphone while asking your spouse if he is "home" for a call from his mother, or using restroom facilities while a friend prattles on, there comes a time when knowing how to mute a home phone is essential. Avoid embarrassing technological mishaps by learning how to mute your home phone system now.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A phone with mute feature
• Mute service through a phone company
• A (
• )code for mute

1. Check to see if your phone base has a mute button. Phones equipped for frequent conference calls often include a mute button, but the symbol may be obscure. Call a friend and test unknown buttons by pressing while asking if she can still hear you.

2. 
    
   How to Mute a Home Phone- Check Handset Display for Mute Feature

   Explore a digital phone's display menu to locate a mute feature. Popular Uniden and Panasonic models often display the mute option on-screen only when talking. Press the button below the displayed text. Then you can mute your home phone fast when the baby starts crying or the dog barks while listening to your boss.

3. 
    
   Don't Show Poor Phone Etiquette- Learn How to Mute a Home Phone

   Listen to recorded directions given at the start of telephone seminars. Often there are specific numeric codes to press when you need to mute the call. Mute your home phone at the beginning of the conference and only cancel the mute when you need to speak. This saves everyone attending from the distraction of coughs, chewing, and other background noises.

4. 
    
   Select a Home Phone Headset With a Mute Feature

   Purchase a headset to use with your home phone for routine conference calls. Select a model with an easily accessible mute feature.

5. Look in the phone book or call your home telephone service provider to enquire about mute services accessed by a (*) code. This may help if your phone is a simple model with no muting capabilities. The service may be free or require an additional monthly charge.

Tips & Warnings

• If you work from home, invest in a phone with an easily accessible mute button rather than a digital menu.
• Search online shopping sites for phones with mute capabilities.
• Never use hold in place of mute during a call. The party on the other end of the line may hear music and know you are no longer listening. Misuse of hold feature frequently disrupts telephone conferences and seminars. Knowing how to mute your home phone is essential etiquette.